Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) members met senior government ministers Penny Wong and Don Farrell to discuss skills support and the industry’s role in promoting sustainable and ethical travel ahead of the 2023-24 Budget next week.
The AFTA delegation of travel agents, tour operators, businesses and suppliers met with the senior ministers at separate events in Sydney and Melbourne.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong attended the in-depth briefing in Sydney hosted by Sabre to discuss the key challenges and opportunities for the sector.
AFTA CEO Dean Long said Minister Penny Wong engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of the Government’s foreign policies and the role of travel in delivering these policies.
Also covered was the role of agents, the industry’s promotion of sustainability, increased airline competition, the ethics of organising and selling tours to areas of the world with questionable human rights records and the importance of travel insurance.
AFTA members in attendance in Sydney included David Greenland (CT Partners), Greg McCarthy (Corporate Travel Management), Simon Roll (Sabre), David Hosking (TTC), Tom Beadle (Intrepid), Ram Chhabra (CVFR Travel Group), David Goldman (Goldman Travel), Penny Spencer (Spencer Travel), Justin Kestel (Qatar Airways), Jane McKeon (Cover-More), Ben Angell (CLIA), Yohan Silva (Helloworld), Lara Behrens (Bench Africa), Louis Arul (Singapore Airlines), Peter Hosper (ATPI), James Hewlett (Collette) and Chris Fundell (GFOB).
“In Melbourne, Andy Buerckner of Platinum Travel Corporation met with Minister Farrell to discuss the need for ongoing support in the skills space, which is the biggest handbrake on our sector’s overall recovery,” Mr Long said.
“This builds on the successful advocacy that delivered on adding travel consultants to the National Skills List for the first time in over 10 years.
“As we exit the pandemic and travel recovers, AFTA advocacy continues to focus on educating Australia’s leaders on the power of ATAS travel agents, tour operators and wholesale businesses who help Australians travel,” Mr Long added.
Find out more at afta.com.au
